Beginning with a Few Particular Alterations to our Laws / Lloyd

In the 1980 Annual General Conference one speaker spoke of a future day:

“Nor are the days of our greatest sorrows and our deepest sufferings all behind us. They too lie ahead. We shall yet face greater perils, we shall yet be tested with more severe trials, and we shall yet weep more tears of sorrow than we have ever known before. . .

“The way ahead is dark and dreary and dreadful. There will yet be martyrs; the doors in Carthage shall again enclose the innocent. We have not been promised that the trials and evils of the world will entirely pass us by.

“If we, as a people, keep the commandments of God; if we take the side of the Church on all issues, both religious and political; if we take the Holy Spirit for our guide; if we give heed to the words of the apostles and prophets who minister among us—then, from an eternal standpoint, all things will work together for our good.

“Our view of the future shall be undimmed, and, whether in life or in death, we shall see our blessed Lord return to reign on earth . . .”

These many years since hearing this discourse I’ve wondered what issues or circumstances would create such a situation for Our People.

Prior to that conference address, when wandering through the Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich and even driving through the German countryside where I was stationed, I wondered whether we in the United States were capable of the evil of that Camp.

Recently, with the beheadings of Coptic Christians, I figured that as a world-wide church such dreadful scenarios might very well occur to our members but in far away places.

Nevertheless, the earnestness of Senior Church Leaders during the recent Jan 27th News Conference on Religious Freedom and Nondiscrimination suggests the issues they presented merit more careful consideration than a passing glance.

Furthermore, current actions against religion and religious values in our own country, beginning with a few particular alterations to our foundational law, are being directed against men and women of all Faiths and against religious affiliated organizations especially.